Utility bag



Patented Apr. 25, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UTILITY BAG Wentzle Rum], J r., East Orange, N. J. 7

Application January 19, 1949, Serial No. 71,589 9 Claims. 01. 2064) 1 This invention relates to luggage and is particularly concerned with small luggage such as hand bags and the like.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide an improved handbag which may be used as a combination handbag and utility bag or which may be used as a small piece of luggage at the desire of the owner.

In carrying out the above object it is a further object to provide a bag having a box-like frame, which frame is divided into at least three com- .other two of said compartments, said second cover being releasably locked in closed position through locking means which are only operable from the inside of the first mentioned compartment. In this manner it is impossible for the second cover to be opened from the outside of the bag, it being necessary at all times to open the first compartment in order to gain access to :i

the locking means for subsequently opening the second and third compartments.

A further object of the invention is to provide a utility bag having a box-like frame including Ymultiple compartments therein, one of which may be used as a handbag compartment to contain purse, cosmetics and personal effects, while at least two other compartments are provided which are substantially sealed from the first compartment, one of said latter two compartments being capable of containing sandwiches and the like while-the other of said latter two compartments is of a size sufiicient to carry a small Thermos bottle. In this manner a conventional appearing handbag is provided which is, in effect, a utility bag that not only containsarticles found in the usual handbag, but also includes space for a lunch and a hot or cold drink container.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred forms of embodiment are shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view in perspective of one type of handbag with an adjustable strap which may be used over the shoulder or as a handle.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the handbag, with one of the covers in open position, showing the lunch and Thermos bottle containing compartments together with a portion of the T-shelf.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the other side of the bag showing the second cover in open position and exposing the handbag compartment.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the bag with the two covers partially open in dotted lines.

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the T-shaped shelf.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1 wherein the shelf per se is shown in full.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the top portion of the bag showing one type of locking means therefor.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6 showing one mode in which the shelf may be supported in the bag at the side thereof.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view taken along line 99 of Fig. 6 showing the remainder of the support which also acts as a seal between the compartments as formed by the T-shaped shelf and;

Fig. 10 is a view showing a modification in shelf design.

The need of a utility bag has long been evident. Ofice workers and the like find it difficult to carry their lunch together with a handbag. Even when the lunch is carried it is usually impossible to include a warm or cold drink as may be contained in a Thermos bottle. Similarly lunch boxes are not generally used due to the outward appearance thereof and their cumbersome nature which necessitates being carried home every evening. It is apparent that a utility bag of compact design would be highly desirable for the average ofiice worker which bag not only carries the personal effects of the user, but also includes compartments for Thermos bottle, sandwiches and the like. I have found that such bag can be compactly designed through a unique arrangement of compartments which bag not only provides a personal effects compartment but also compartments for Thermos bottle and sandwiches and which outwardly appears no different than the average handbag. It is apparent that larger models than the one depicted may-be made for different occasions and conditions.

Such a bag has the further advantage of ineluding a removable T-shaped shelf which may be taken out of the bag when desired, thereby providing a large bag which in some instances may be used as an overnight bag, a bag for containing a swim suit and towel etc.

Referring to the drawings a preferred design of the bag is shown in Fig. 1 at 2B. This embodiment includes a carrying strap 22 which is ad- 3 justable for either hand or shoulder length. The bag includes an external latching or locking means 24 for one compartment thereof. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the same bag showing the food containing compartment or utility compartment 26 exposed through the opening of one of the covers 28 which is hinged at 30 to a boxlike frame member 32. The compartment 25 is formed vby shelf 34-which is an inverted T-shape having. an upright dividing partition 36 and a cross partition 38. In the view shown in Fig. 2 walls 40 of the compartment 26 are carried by the cover 28 although it is apparent that in some cases these walls may be portions of the box-like frame member 32 and the cover 28 may bemerely a fiat cover having no appreciable flanges thereon. In Fig. 2 a Thermos bottle All S shown in.

place whereas sandwiches or similar foodstuffs may be placed in the compartment on the shelf 34.

In Fig. 3 the other side of the bag is opened through -the meeium of a hinged-cover 46. The cover 46' may be-locked-clbsed by locking means 24 and the: cover 46 may-' carryam-irror 49 thereon while the upright dividing" Wall 36 of the T'-sliaped shelf err-ma 'be' provided with a pocket 58 in which ones-steak, purse, etc. may carried-.- In Fig. 4 a'h 'end-v'iew of the bag is shown with both covers partially open as indicated in dotted lines.

The T -shaped snelrrorm's an important part of the'ihvention. This'shelf divides the bag into at leastthreec'ompartments and'if'furthe'r partitioning means are provided'on the shelf, it is manifest that morecompartments may be had if desired. It'is tobe-understoo'dthat' such modifioatiohs come within the scopeof my invention. For all practical purposes three compartments of the bag are sufficient. The shelf 34 is dimensioned so 'asto slip into the frame member 32' either in grooves as shown in Fig. 8 or between longitudinal strips 48 which are secured to the frame 32. In some cases as shown in Fig. 8 both strips and a slot may be used if the frame material is thin suc'n as plywood; In order to stop the shelf from sliding inwardlytoo-far; strips 50 are used, 1

and, when a-lin-ing is provided in the'bag and on the shelf, for'm a seal between the food compartment and personal effects compartment. The shelf if properly dimensioned is not loose and no means are generally used to 'lock it into place. r

However, it is fully'w'ithin the-scope of my invention" to provide suitable locking means for holding. theishelf inte position such as snaps or small hooks which would be positioned within the personal effects compartment.

The upright portion 36 of shelf SW-may be provided with a notch 52' at the top'centralportion thereof to permit passage of a locking means 54 therethrough for locking the cover 28 in position. The function of this locking means also forms animporta'nt part ofthe invention.

It will benoted that the locking device 54 looks the cover28 inblosed position. Furthermore the locking device 54 is only'operable to release the cover 28*fr'om the inside of the personal effects compartmentwh-ich means that thelocking device 54 canonly be 'operated' afte'r the cover 46 is opened; In'this manner it is impossible for the-user of'the bag'to becomeconfused and open the utility compartment-26 by mistake since it is always necessary to first opencover 46 prior to the time that the cover 28 can be opened. In

'Fig; 7 thelocking device 541s shown as a lever is fulcruined' on ahin'ge '60 carried'by the frame member 32. The inner end of the lever 56 en gages a catch 62 carried by cover 28. It is apparent that many other types of locks will be suitable. In this instance the locking device 54 merely is an example of one of such devices.

The inner surfaces of the bag may be lined with any suitable material. The personal effects compartment and portions of the shelf pertaining thereto may be lined with sills etc. while the utility portions of the bag are more useful; if; covered with a water repellent material such as the vinyl covered fabrics and the like. The lining passing over the strips 48 and 50 acts to a large degree asa'seal.

It is apparent that the shelf instead of being inverted T-shape as shown, may be of upright T-shape whereinthe personal effects compartment may open at the lower half of the bag if desired with the utility compartment being hinged in the opposite direction and opening from the bottom. Any'of these modifications are fully within the scope oftl'ie invention.

One modification of shelf design revolves around a means forlocking the shelf in place. In this instance the lowerpartition 38 is made of flexible springy material such assheet steel,

aluminum etc. and is hingedly connected to the upright partition 36. Thi'sform of the invention is shown'in Fig. 10 wherein the frame-32 is provided with a notch 66 thereinwhich will accommodate thetop edge 'of the partition 36. The partition 35 in this embodiment is hinged as at 68 to the lower partition'Wwhich ismade of aluminum or steel etc. coveredwith'a suitable fabric. Fig. 10 shows the pa'rtition-positioned within slot 66, Whereasthe partition 10 is entered into slot i2 which is a duplicate of a similar slot on the opposite side of the frame. It will be noted that the slot 12'is not quite straight,'but is slightly bowed or curved upwardly at the rear portion thereof. In this manner, as the shelf 36 is pressed into-position, the partition 10 which is preferably flat is resiliently changed in shape to conform with the grooves 12 and in this manner frictionally engages the grooves to prevent displacement of the shelf when it is in position. Furthermore, the hinge connection 68 permitsthe partition 36 to be perpendicular to the partition 10. The curvature in the groove'l'2 is preferably not commenced until a pointis reached about mid-way across the frame and is curved upwardly, this curve will bring'the upper portion of the groove approximately 15 above thehorizontal on a line taken from the central'portion of the groove as shown in the drawings; The "angularity is not critical and. may vary from 5 to 20 or thereabouts according to the degree of frictional engagement desired.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein. disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A box-.type-h'andbag, comprising in combination, a box-like main. body frame; a T-shaped shelf slidably and removably positioned with said frame for dividing the bag into at least three compartments, said T-shaped shelf being arranged so as. to provide. two compartments disposed on opposite sides thereof and a third lower compartment beneath'said first. mentioned two compartments, ahinged cover on one side of the bag for providingingress' to oneoi'said two oppositelydisposed compartments; "a second hinged "cover-at"theoppositesid'eof' the bag of sufficient extent to provide ingress to the other of said oppositely disposed compartments and simultaneously to said lower compartment, external locking means for said first mentioned cover operable to releasably hold said cover in closed position, a second locking means for said second cover, for releasably holding said second cover in closed position, said second locking means only being operable to release said cover from within said first mentioned compartment, whereby the first cover must be opened before the second cover can be opened, said T-shaped shelf being removable for changing the bag from a multi-compartment utility bag to a single compartment bag.

2. A utility bag; comprising, in combination a rigid box-like main frame, a T-shaped shelf, slidably insertable into said frame for dividing the frame into at least three compartments, a hinged cover at one side of the bag for opening the entire side thereof, said cover being attached to the frame member, a solid wall on the opposite side of the bag for partially closing the frame member, a second cover on said opposite side of the bag hingedly connected to a portion of the bag for permitting ingress to another compartment not formed by said solid wall whereby the first mentioned cover forms an opening to two compartments whereas the second mentioned cover forms an opening for only one compartment, locking means external of the frame for locking the second mentioned cover, and locking means within the bag and operable only after the second mentioned cover is in open position for permitting opening of the first mentioned cover, said T- shaped shelf being removable for changing the bag from a multi-compartment bag to a single compartment bag.

3. Abag of the type described in claim 1 wherein the T-shaped shelf consists of an upright partition and a cross partition hingedly connected thereto, said box-like frame member being provided with grooves for receiving and holding the hingedly connected partition of the T-shaped shelf, said grooves being curved through a portion of their extent at an angle not to exceed 20 from the center line of the groove whereby the T-shaped shelf due to the resihency thereof is frictionally engaged in its position within the frame.

4. A handbag comprising in combination a. boxlike main frame, a shelf slidably positioned within said frame and dividing the bag into at least three compartments, means associated with the frame for positively positioning the shelf, said shelf being of substantially T-shaped extent and including an upright partition and a cross partition attached thereto, and being so arranged as to provide two compartments disposed on opposite sides of the upright partition and a third compartment extending completely across the box-like frame, a hinged cover on one side of the bag for providing ingress to one of two oppositely disposed compartments, a second hinged cover on the opposite side of the bag and of suflicient extent to provide ingress to the other of said op positely disposed compartments and simultaneously to said third compartment, and means for holding said covers in closed position.

5. A handbag comprising in combination a box-like main frame, a shelf Within said frame for dividing the bag into at least three compartments, means associated with the frame for positioning and holding the shelf, said shelf being of a substantially T-shaped extent and including an upright partition and a cross partition attached thereto, and being so arranged as to provide two compartments disposed on opposite sides of the upright partition and a third compartment extending completely across the box-like frame, a hinged cover on one side of the bag for providing ingress to one of two oppositely disposed compartments, a second hingedlcover on the opposite side of the bag and of "sufiicient extent to provide ingress to the other ofsaid oppositely disposed compartments and simultaneously to said third compartment, external locking means for said first mentioned cover for holding the cover in closed position, and internal locking means for said second cover for holding the second cover in closed position, said internal locking means only being operable to release said second cover from within the bag, whereby the first cover must be opened before the second cover locking means can be operated.

6. A utility bag comprising in combination; a substantially box-like frame member, hinged covers attached to said frame member at opposite sides thereof for closing the frame into a box, one of said covers exposing the entire side of the frame member when in open position, the other of said covers only partially exposing the other side of the frame member when in open position, a T-shaped shelf insertable Within said frame for forming separate compartments therein, said shelf being of such extent so as to form three compartments, two of which are opened by the opening of the first mentioned cover and one of which is opened by the opening of the second mentioned cover.

7. The utility bag claimed in claim 6 including locking means for the second mentioned cover disposed on the outside of the bag and a second locking means for the first mentioned cover disposed within the compartment which is opened by the opening of the second mentioned cover.

8. The utility bag claimed-in claim 6 wherein the T-shaped shelf is removable from the remainder of the bag through the opening formed by the first mentioned cover.

9. The utility bag claimed in claim 6 wherein the T-shaped shelf is frictionally held within the frame member by means of curved grooves which resiliently partially deform the shelf when the shelf is in position within the grooves.

WENTZLE RUML, J R.

No references cited. 

